DEFINING GLOBALIZATION

Introduction

Much has changed since time immemorial. Human beings have encountered
many changes over the last century especially in their social relationship and social
structures. Of these changes, one can say that globalization is a very important change,
if not. The “most important” (Bauman, 2003). The reality and omnipresence of
globalization make us see ourselves as part of what we refer to as the “global age”
(Albrow, 1996). The Internet, for example, allow a person from the Philippines to know
what is happening to the rest of the world simply by browsing Google. The mass media
also allows for connection among people, communities, and countries all over the globe.

So what is globalization? This question is probably an easy one to answer.

However, many scholar gave and tried to formulate its definitions. This resulted in
different, sometimes contradicting views about the concept. It cannot be contained
within a specific time frame, all people, and all situations (Al-Rhodan, 2006). Aside from
this globalization encompasses a multitude of processes that involves the economy,
political system, and culture. Social structures, therefore, are directly affected by
globalization.

Over the years globalization has gained many connotations pertaining to

progress, development, and integration. On the one hand, some view a globalization as
a positive phenomenon. For instances, Swedish journalist Thomas Larsson (2001) saw
globalization as “the process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things
moving closer. It pertains to the increasing ease with which somebody on one side of
the world can interact, to mutual benefit with somebody on the other side of the world”
(p.9). On the other hand, some see it as occurring through and with regression,
colonialism and destabilization. In the mid-1990s, the former president of Third World
Network (TN) in Malaysia, once regarded globalization as colonization.

In this chapter, different definitions of globalization will discussed. The task of

conceptualizing it reveals a variety of perspectives. To understand further the concept,
different metaphors will be used. These metaphors will also allow an appreciation of
earlier epochs before globalization and the present globalized world. The final lesson in
this chapter will be devoted to a general discussion of globalization theories. The
following section will highlight the different views scholars have toward globalization.

The Task of Defining Globalization

Since its first appearance in the Webster’s Dictionary in 1961, many opinions
about globalization have flourished. The literature on the definitions of globalization
revealed that definitions could be classified as either (1) broad and inclusive or (2)
narrow and exclusive. The one offered by Ohmae in 1992 stated, “… globalization
means the onset of the borderless world…” (p.14). this is an example of a broad and
inclusive type of definition. If one uses such, it can include a variety of issue that deal
with overcoming traditional boundaries. However, it does not shed light on the
implications of globalization due to its vagueness.

Narrow and exclusive definitions are better justified but can be limiting, in the
sense that their application adhere to only particular definitions. Robert Cox’s definition
suits best in this type: “the characteristics of the globalization trend include the
internationalizing of production, the new international division of labor, new migratory
movements from South to North, the new competitive environment that accelerates
these processes, and the internationalizing of the state… making states into agencies of
the globalizing world” (as cited in RAWOO Netherlands Development Assistance
Research Council, 2000 p. 14). Other definitions of globalization are shown in
chronological order in the Appendix. Each could fall to either one of the two types of
definitions.

No matter how one classifies a definitions of globalization, the concepts is

complex and multifaceted as the definitions deals with either economic, political, on
social dimensions. In fact, in a comprehensive study of 114 definitions by the Geneva
Center for Security Policy (GCSP) in 2006, 67 of them refer to economic dimension.
These definitions include political and social dimension as well. The sheer number and
complexity of definitions do not mean that there is a remarkable improvement in every
definition given by scholars. Kumar (2003) took on a different argument about the issue.
To him, the debate about what can be done about globalization and what is a similar.
This is in relation to what some academics have claimed about defining globalization – it
is useless task.

A more recent definition was given by Ritzer (2015), “globalization is a

transplanetary process or a set of processes involving increasing liquidity and the
growing multidirectional flows of people, objects, places, and information as well as the
structures they encounter and create that are barriers to, or expedite those flows ….” (p.
2). Generally, this definitions assumes that globalization could bring either or both
integration and/or fragmentations. Although things flow easily in a global world,
hindrances or structural blocks are also present. These blocks could slow down one’s
activity in another country or could even limit the places a person can visit.

If so, why are we going to spend time studying this concept? How can we
appreciate these definition? How can these help us understand globalization?

First, the perspective of the person who defines globalization shapes its
definition. The overview of definitions implies that globalization is many things to many
different people. In 1996, Arjun Appdurai said,” globalization is a ‘world of things’ that
have different speeds, axes, points of origin and termination, and varied relationship to
institutional structures in different regions, nations, or societies” (as cited in Chowdhury,
2006, p.137). In a more study, Al-Rhodan (2006) wrote that definitions suggest the
perspective of the author on the origins and the geopolitical implications of globalization.
It is a starting point that will guide the rest of any discussions. In effect, one’s definition
and perspective could determine concrete steps in addressing the issues of
globalization. For example, if one sees globalization as positive, the person can say that
it is unifying force. On the other hand, if it is deemed as creating inequalities among
nations globalization is negative treated.

Second, to paraphrase the sociologist Cesare Poppi: Globalization is the debate

and the debate is globalization. One became part and parcel of the other. As Poppi
(1997) wrote: “The literature stemming from the debate on globalization has grown in
the last decade beyond any individual’s capability of extracting a workable definition of
the concept. In a sense, the meaning of the concept is self- evident, in another, it is
vague and obscure as its reaches are wide and constantly shifting. Perhaps, more than
any other concept, globalization is the debate about it” (as cited in Kumar, 2003, p. 95).

Third, globalization is a reality. It is changing as human society develops. It has

happened before and is still happening today. We should expect it to continue to
happen in the future. The future of globalization is more difficult to predict. What we
could expect in the coming years is what has happened over the past 50 years and that
is the fluidity and complexity of globalization as a concept which made more debates,
discussions, and definitions than agreements on it.

Overall, globalization is a concept that is not easy to define because in reality,

globalization has a shifting nature. It is complex multifaceted, and can be influenced by
the people who define it. Moreover, the issue and concerns involving globalization have
a wide range – from the individual to society, from small communities to nations and
states, and from the benefits we can gain from it to the cost it could carry. In this article,
“The Globalization of Nothing”, Ritzer (2003) said, “attitudes towards globalization
depend, among other things, on whether one gain or loses from it” (p. 190).
Nevertheless, the task of defining globalization should stimulate more discussion about
it. More importantly, the fact that we experience globalization should give one the
interest of engaging in the study of it.

Metaphors of Globalization

In order for us to better understand the concept of globalization, we will utilize

metaphors. Metaphors make use of one term to help us better understand another term.
In our case, the states of matter – solid and liquid – will be used. In addition, other
related concepts that are included in the definition such as structures and flows will be
elaborated.

Solid and Liquid

The epochs that preceded today’s globalization paved way for people, things,
information, and places to harden over time. Consequently, they have limited mobility
(Ritzer, 2015). The social relationship and objects remained where they were created.
Solidity also refers to barriers that prevent or make difficult the movement of things.
Furthermore, solids can either be natural or man – made. Example of natural solids are
landforms and bodies of water. Man – made barriers include the Great Wall of China
and the Berlin Wall. An imaginary line such as the nine- dash line used by the People’s
Republic of China in their claim to the South China Sea is an example of modern man –
made solid. This creates limited access of Filipino fishers to the South China Sea.
Obviously, these examples still exist. However, they have the tendency to melt. This
should not be taken literally, like an iceberg melting. Instead, this process involves how
we can describe what is happening in today’s global world. It is becoming increasingly
liquid.

Liquid, as a state of matter, takes the shape of its container. Moreover, liquids
are not fixed. Liquidity, therefore, refers to the increasing ease of movement of people,
things, information, and places in the contemporary world. Zygmunt Bauman’s ideas
were the ones that have much to say about the characteristics of liquidity. First, today’s
liquid phenomena change quickly and their aspects, spatial temporal, are in continuous
fluctuation. This means that space and time are crucial elements of globalization. In
global finance, for instance, changes in the stock market are a matter of seconds.
Another characteristic of liquid phenomena is that their movement is difficult to stop. For
example, videos uploaded on YouTube of Facebook are unstoppable once they
become viral. The so-called internet sensations become famous not only in their
homeland but also to the entire world. Finally, the forces (the liquid ones) made political
boundaries more permeable to the flow of people and things (Cartier, 2001). This brings
us to what Ritzer (2015, p. 6) regarded as the most important characteristic of liquid: it
“tends to melt whatever stands in its path (especially solids).” The clearest example is
the decline, if not death, of the nation state

Liquidity and solidity are in constant interaction. However, liquidity is the one
increasing and proliferating today. Therefore, the metaphor that could best describe
globalization is liquidity liquids do flow and this idea of flow (Appadurai, 1996; Rey and
Ritzer, 2010) will be the focus of the next discussion. Also, it should be expected that
this concept will appear in the succeeding lessons. The literature in globalization makes
use of the concept of flows.
Flows

The previous section described the melting process of solid phenomena followed
by the increase in liquidity. It is only logical to discuss the flows of liquid phenomena.
Flows are the movement of people, things, places and information brought by the
growing “porosity” of global limitations (Ritzer, 2015). Think of the different foreign
cuisines being patronized and consumed by the Filipinos. Aside from local dishes, many
of us are fond of eating sushi, ramen, hamburger, and French fries−foods introduced to
us by foreign cultures. Clearly, foods are being globalized. Another example of flows is
global financial crises. As landler (2008, p. C1) put it: “In global financial system,
national borders are porous.” This means that a financial crisis in a given country can
bring ramifications to other regions of the world. An example of which is the spread of
the effects of American financial crisis on Europe in 2008. The following are other kinds
of flows that can be observed today: poor illegal immigrants recreating ethnic enclaves
in host countries. A concrete example is the Filipino communities abroad and the
Chinese communities in the Philippines.

Process Questions

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using (a) broad and inclusive
definitions and (b) narrow and exclusive definitions of globalization?
2. What do you think is the importance of defining globalization?
3. Do you agree with the idea that the contemporary world is characterized by high
liquidity? Why or why not?

Activity: The World Made Closer

We discussed the different definitions of globalization. In this global age that we

live in, globalization gained various views from many authors and scholars. In turn,
these diverse definitions can affect how one can appreciate globalization as a process.
Furthermore, we analyzed globalization through conceptual metaphors such as solids,
liquids, flows.

In this activity, you are to see the actual application of globalization on the
different aspects of daily life such as politics, music, sports, film, celebrity, and disaster.

1. Answer the following questions:

a. Enumerate at least three of the most recent songs you have listened. Where
did they originate? Identify the nationality of the writer and/or artist for each
music.
b. What gadgets or devices do you usually use to listen to music?
c. Where were these gadgets or devices made? Where is the company based?
d. How did you access these music? Did you purchase them online or listen to
them through Youtube, Spotify and other music channels?
2. Using a visual representation, create you generalizations and discuss: what is
globalization? How would you define globalization?
3. What metaphors are you going to use in order to improve your own definition of
globalization? Enumerate at least three and explain one of them.